Government and power in Senegal

Who leads Senegal, how the World Bank's governance indicators score it, how many women sit in parliament and government, what the state spends and taxes, and the official bodies that hold power to account. System of government: Unitary presidential republic.

Who leads Senegal?

• Head of state: Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye (Président de la République du Sénégal)
• Head of government: Ahmadou Al Amine Mohamed Lo (Premier Ministre de la République du Sénégal)
• Foreign minister: Cheikh Niang (Ministre de l'Intégration africaine, des Affaires étrangères et des Sénégalais de l'Extérieur de la République du Sénégal)

Source: Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers for Foreign Affairs: Public List (United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service), list dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.

Governance scores

The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators combine surveys of households and firms with assessments by public, private and non-governmental bodies. Each score runs from 0 to 100; higher means the sources rate governance better. They measure perceptions, and each has a margin of error.

Voice and accountability

Measures how far citizens can choose their government, and freedom of expression, association and the media.

Political stability and absence of violence

Measures the likelihood of political instability or politically motivated violence, including terrorism.

Government effectiveness

Measures the quality of public services and the civil service, and how independent they are from political pressure.

Regulatory quality

Measures the government's ability to make and carry out policies that let the private sector develop.

Rule of law

Measures confidence in and respect for the rules of society, including contract enforcement, property rights, the police and the courts.

Control of corruption

Measures how far public power is used for private gain, including petty and grand corruption and "capture" of the state by elites.

Official bodies that hold power in Senegal

Government

• Government of Senegal (Prime Minister's Office)
  Council of Ministers communiqués, government programme and official news.
• Presidency of the Republic
  Presidential decrees, speeches and official announcements.

Parliament

• National Assembly
  Laws passed, plenary sessions and lists of deputies.

Elections

• Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA)
  Oversight reports on elections and electoral operations.
• Directorate General of Elections (DGE)
  Electoral rolls, polling station lists and election organisation information.

Courts

• Supreme Court
  Supreme Court rulings, annual reports and information bulletins.
• Constitutional Council
  Decisions on constitutionality and the results of national elections.

Public audit

• Court of Accounts
  Public reports on audits of state finances and public bodies.

Public contracts

• Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARCOP)
  Public procurement regulation, tender and award notices, complaint decisions and audits.

Government below the national level

• Administrative regions (14): Governor appointed by the president
• Departments (46 administrative; 43 departmental councils): Prefect appointed by the president; departmental council elected for five years, and its president is the head of the winning list
• Arrondissements: Sub-prefect appointed
• Communes (557, including 5 cities: Dakar, Pikine, Guédiawaye, Rufisque, Thiès): Municipal council elected for five years; mayor is the head of the winning list
• Villages and neighbourhoods: Village chiefs and neighbourhood delegates chosen locally and appointed by the administration

How local power works in Senegal

Places in Senegal

• All 14 regions
• The 15 largest cities
• Official statistics for Senegal

Sources

• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Voice and accountability (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70f2804fd1e2…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Political stability and absence of violence (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1317de0c85e1…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Government effectiveness (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a775e808dc65…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Regulatory quality (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83b57e36ff8c…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Rule of law (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0bccc3c054e8…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Control of corruption (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3b15a5340cdd…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Seats held by women in national parliament (SG.GEN.PARL.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1ae1dc13981a…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Women in ministerial positions (SG.GEN.MNST.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a4e448a5b8bd…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Central government spending (GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 808094019f50…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Tax revenue (GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08c94b750f31…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Military spending (MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7f6913a783b…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Armed forces personnel (MS.MIL.TOTL.P1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fa4663c743ba…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Statistical Performance Indicator (overall score) (IQ.SPI.OVRL), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08ac7cde9129…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Births registered (SP.REG.BRTH.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f8d443034ba7…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: People using the internet (IT.NET.USER.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0d78dc658329…)

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.